Nice: Old Town, Cours Saleya Market and Local Flavors
The visit to Nice started in the Old City. We wandered between food stalls and shops, went into church and stopped to taste local cuisine. It is a pleasant area to get to know on foot, with enough time to get out of the way and enter an alley that intrigues you.
The visit to Nice started in the Old City. We wandered between food stalls and shops, went into church and stopped to taste local cuisine. It is a pleasant area to get to know on foot, with enough time to get out of the way and enter an alley that intrigues you.
The facades, alleyways, and food in the Old City are sometimes reminiscent of Italy, and not by accident. Nice joined France in 1860, after long periods under the rule of the House of Savoy and the Kingdom of Sardinia. This influence is still evident in the appearance of the city and its cuisine.
Morning between the stalls
The Cours Saleya market was colorful and vibrant. We saw flowers, spices, cheeses, breads, meats and seafood, and along with them wooden tools and souvenirs. Among the stalls were people who came shopping and others, like us, who just enjoyed looking. It is worth taking a walk before settling down to eat, to be impressed by the offering and to choose what one would like to taste.
If you are coming to the food and flower market especially, note the day of the week: on Mondays there is an antique market here instead of the usual flower market.Days of operation of the Cours Saleya market Towards the visit.
Sokka, Pissladier and Onion Break
Sokka is one of the most identified foods with Nice: a thin, salty pastry made of chickpea flour, water and olive oil, baked in high heat on a wide surface. The edges brown, and eaten in pieces, usually hot and with black pepper. It is nice to meet the chickpeas we know in a completely different way. In our country the sokka was served cold, and Liat loved it very much as it was.
The name is associated with pissalat, a salty fish paste used to make the pastry. Both dishes are suitable for a short lunch break during the trip, without sitting for a whole meal.
In September, too, it was hot, and some of the cafes had no air conditioning. We preferred to sit in shaded alleys, especially in places where there was some wind. On such a day, an onion table can be just as important as what appears on the menu.
A Visit to the Church Between Alleys
During the walk, we entered the church with an impressive baroque space. The Baroque is characterized by rich decorations, rounded lines, and a sense of movement. It is worth raising your head and paying attention to the height of the space and how the design directs the gaze to the altar. After the bustling streets, it was pleasant to linger inside and look at details.
Towards the evening the streets and small squares were filled with people sitting outside.Belanda Tower and Boardwalk We enjoyed the combination of the two parts of the city on the same day.
How to combine in a trip
It is worth dedicating a few hours to the Old City, including time for market, tasting, and walking in alleys. You can continue from there on foot to Massena Square and to the sea. We are on our way.ibis Nice Centre Gare, which was convenient due to the proximity to the railway station; the details of the accommodation and the distribution of the days appear in Full travel article.
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